Sheet-metal can



Feb. 19, 19242 l. E. SEXTON- SHEET METAL CAN `Filed Feb 'lll/lllllllllllllllllllll!ll/[l/lll/lllllll/[ll/lllIll/I nllIl111111111111lul/111111111111111(llnnl/l/ Patented Feb. 19, 1924.

UNITED STAT-Es ISAAC E. SEXTON, OF WINCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHEET-METAL CAN.

Application led February 17, 1923. Serial No. 619,657.

To all whom t may ccf/wem.'

Be it known that4 I, ISAAC E. SnxToN, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVinchester, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Metal Cans, of which the following is a specification.

The invention is embodied in a can, and a closure. for the mouth thereof, of such construction tliat when the can is prepared for the market, the mouth is closed by two joints, one outside; and the other within-the mouth, the outer joint being formed by the cooperation of a cap with the mouth, and the inner joint by the conjoint cooperation with the mouth of said cap and a stopper formed as an independent part.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a art of this specilication,-

figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a can mouth, and a closure therefor.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section on lme 2-*2 of Figure 1.

Figures 3, 4, and are 'sectional views showing separately the parts shown assembled by Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional view, showing the cap and the stopper assembled preparatory to application to the mouth. i

Figure 7 is a sectional view, showing the mouth and the stopper after the removal of the cap.

Figure 8 is a sectional View, showing the mouth and the cap without the stopper.

Figure 9 is a sectionalview, illustrating the operation of frictionally engaging the caprwith the stopper. l

i re 10 is a view similar to Figure 2I showing the stopper provided with a Inaryginal annular lip.

Figures 11 and 12 are views similar, respectively, to Figures 6 land 7, showing the sto per as in Fi re 10. l

he same re erence characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, 12represents the tubular mouth of a sheet metal can. A portion 13 of the internal surface of the mouth forms an annular internal stopper seat. A portion 14 of the mouth forms an annular external' cap flange seat. An'intermediate portion 15 of the mouth forms an annular end shoulder between the seats 13 and 14.

The mouth and the flange portion of the vcap hereinafter described, are preferably constructed as shown by my Patent No. 1,419,314, dated June 13, 1922. A sheet metal stopper, composed of a circular head 16, and a tapering upstanding annular flange 17, is adapted to coopera-te with the internal seat 13, in forming an inner joint closing the mouth, the taper and diameter of the flange 17 being such that when the stopper .is forced into the neck, the flange is wedged firmly in the seat 13, and forms a practically fluid-tight joint.

A sheet metal cap is provided, which is adapted to transmit pressure to the stopper to Wedge the same in the neck, and is also adapted to frictionally engage the outer seat 14, to form an outer joint. Said cap includes an annular portion 19, which coincides with the end shoulder 15, an annular flange 20, projecting downward from the outer part of the portion 19, and adapted to frictionally engage the outer seat 14, and a central boss projecting downward from the inner part of the portion 19, and composed of a. circular' head portion 21, and a tapered annular wall portion 22, inserted in and' conforming to the taper of the stopper flange 17.

The wall portion 22 and flange 17 are frictionally engaged with each other, so that before the application of the closure to the mouth, the cap and Stopper are adapted to bev handled yand applied to the mouth as a single part. The stopper flange may be initially formed with a taper which is less than that of the wall portion 22, of the boss, as shown by Figure 9, so that the operation` of forcing the boss into the-stopper slightly expands the stopper flange and causes it to engage the wall portion 22, with sufficient firmness to hold the parts assembled for manipulation and application to the mouth, and permit the separation of the ca from the stopper by force exerted as described in my former patent, to remove the cap from the mouth.

It will now be seen that when the assembled cap and stopper are applied to the mouth, and downward pressure is exerted on the cap, the cap flange 20, and the stopper flange 17, simultaneously engage the external seat 14, and the internal seat 13respectively, and form the inner -and outer joints. The pressure transmitted throu h the cap to the stopper flange wedges t e flange in the internal seat so firmly that the frictional engagement between the stopper;

may be pulled out.

When the parts are assembled, as shown by Figure 2, the mouth is tightly sealed, the wedging action of the stopper flange 17, on the internal seat 13 causing a close and accurate conformation of these sheet metal parts to each other.

When the stopper has been removed or rendered inoperative, the mouth may be again closed, although possibly not so tightly as before, by engaging the cap flange with the external seat 14, as shown by Figure 8.

As shown by Figures 10, 11 and '12, the sto-pper flange 17 may be provided with an annular lip 18, adapted to be :seated on the neck 15, under the annular portion 19 of the cap. The object of the lip 18 is to enable the stopper to be conveniently removed by a prying tool inserted between its under side and the neck 15, when the cap is removed. l/Vhen the lip 18 is employed, the annular portion 19 of the cap bears on the lip instead of on the neck 1 5.

The lower portion of the cap flange 20 may be flared outward, so that it 'is separated by a crevice 24 from the seat/14, as shown by Figure 10. The bearing of the cap flange on the seat is therefore limited,

so that, although a tight joint is formed, the

cap may be more easily removed from its seat, than when it has the extended bearing shown by Figures 2 and 8.

The wall 22 of the cap boss may be narrowerthanA the stopper flange, as shown by Figures 10 and 11, so that the bearing of the wall on the stopper flange is narrower than the Width of the said flange. rIhe wall 22 is therefore separable from the flange 17 nasales more easily than said flange is separable from the internal seat 13.

I claim:

1. A sheet-metal can comprising, in combination, a tubular mouth having an annular internal stopper seat, an annular external cap flange seat, and an annular end shoulder vbetween said seats; a stopper having a circular head and a tapering upstanding flange, adapted to be wedged into said stopper seat, and form therewith an inner joint; and a cap having an annular face.l coinciding with said end shoulder, an annular flange projecting downward from the outer forming an inner joint, and frictionally en gage the cap flange with the said external seat, thus forming 'an outer joint, the arrangement being such that when the cap is removed from the mouth, the stopper remains therein.

2. A sheet-metal can embodying the combination specified by claim 1, the said stopper being provided with an annular lip, adapted to abut against said end shoulder, and to engage a prying tool inserted between the lip andthe shoulder.

' 3. A sheet-metal can embodying the combination specified-by claim 1, the said cap flange being flared outward at its lower portion to -limit its bearing on said external seat.

- 4. A sheet-metal can embodying the combination specified by claim 1, the said annular boss wall being narrower than thesaid stopper flange, to facilitate the separation of the wall from the flange.

In testimony whereof I vhave affixed my signature.

ISAAC E. 'SEXTON 

